looked on in wonder at the influx of foreign tourists to ancient cities in southern mexico and central america was a past hundreds of years ago. -- whose heyday past hundreds of years ago. >> they are dancing according to an ancient mayan ritual in preparation for the end of the world. these days, the famous complex in guatemala is full of visitors. many tourists have come to experience the big day. >> there are mixed feelings. s going to end. others believe it is the end of one era and the beginning of another. democrats are also gathering at mayan sites in mexico. tour groups from around the world have come with widely varying expectations, but not everyone thinks the world will come to an end on december 21. >> meet some beings of other species, and we are basically hoping to just ask them for help. >> that day has become too commercialized as the end of the world. it is simply the mayan calendar. as time goes on, we will realize there is a continuity. >> this year loan, mexico is expecting a total of 52 million tourists come 12 million more than last year. the mexican government has worked